Gabriel Bonfim has officially arrived as a contender in the UFC’s welterweight division.
Using a beautiful jab and a damage-inducing right hand to great effect, the Brazilian outpointed former champion Belal Muhammad in Saturday night’s UFC Vegas 118’s main event at the Meta Apex. In his first ever five-round fight, Bonfim swept the scorecards, 50-45, 50-45 and 50-45.
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Ever gracious in victory, Bonfim paid his respect to the ex-champion, Muhammad, for blazing a trail at 170 pounds directly afterward.
“This a former champion as I said, that trailed a path that few have had, there’s a reason why he’s there,” he said. “I know I didn’t finish, but I would like to say, our game plan worked. I was able to actually neutralize his game — and our game plan, we put it to perfection.”
The 28-year-old Bonfim (20-1) entered the contest on a white-hot four-fight win streak, having come off an impressive finish of Randy Brown last November. Yet Saturday was the true litmus test, as none of Bonfim’s previous opponents held the kind of credentials Muhammad (24-6, 1 NC) did.
Bonfim, who had a noticeable size advantage over the 37-year-old Muhammad, not only found the range to get off his shots, but he also mastered that range in keeping out of harm’s way from anything Muhammad wanted to do.
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At one point, midway through the third round, he knocked Muhammad’s mouthpiece out of his mouth with a clean right hand, before letting out a laugh at his own handiwork.
For his next act, Bonfim proceeded to lay down the gauntlet for another former champion.
“Jack Della Maddalena, stay ready,” he said. “You’re my next opponent. I just got to the top five, and I want to be active. That’s it. You’re next.”
Muhammad, who was ranked No. 5 at 170 pounds despite having lost back-to-back bouts against Ian Machado Garry and Della Maddalena coming in, never found a rhythm in a fight that took place entirely on the feet. It’s the first time in Muhammad’s 31-fight pro career that he has lost three consecutive fights.
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Meanwhile Bonfim, who was ranked No. 11, will now make the leap into contention at 170 pounds, a division that has never had a Brazilian champion.
In the co-main event, Brendan Allen (27-7) made it three wins in a row by scoring a unanimous decision victory in his middleweight clash with Edmen Shahbazyan (16-6).
In what was a closely contested fight that took place primarily on the feet, the 30-year-old Allen showcased his boxing skills in edging out all three rounds on two of the judge’s scorecards.
The loss snapped a three-fight win streak for Shahbazyan.
Allen, who stopped Reinier de Ridder in his previous fight, called for a rematch with Nassourdine Imavov in his post-fight interview.
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Check out complete UFC Vegas 118: Muhammad vs. Bonfim results and highlights below.
Main card
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Welterweight: Gabriel Bonfim def. Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
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Middleweight: Brendan Allen def. Edmen Shahbazyan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
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Lightweight: Tom Nolan def. Fares Ziam via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
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Bantamweight: Bryce Mitchell def. Santiago Luna via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 4:52 of R3) | Watch finish
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Light Heavyweight: Iwo Baraniewski def. Junior Tafa via TKO (punches) at 1:25 of R1
Prelims
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Catchweight (130 pounds): Alessandro Costa def. Matt Schnell via TKO (punches) at 2:32 of R2
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Bantamweight: Marcus McGhee def. John Yannis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
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Flyweight: Edgar Chairez def Bruno Gustavo da Silva via submission (neck crank) at 4:43 of R1
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Women’s Bantamweight: Chelsea Chandler def. Priscilla Cachoeira via submission (armbar) at 3:42 of R1
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Featherweight: Joanderson Brito def. Jordan Leavitt via submission (ninja choke) at 4:19 of R1
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Women’s Flyweight: Jeisla Chaves def. Yuneisy Duben via split decision (29-27, 28-29, 29-28)
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Women’s Strawweight: Ketlen Souza def Ariane Carnelossi via KO (punches and head kick) at 1:34 of R1
